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Ramtron International Corporation: Ramtron Announces Low Power 256-Kilobit Serial F-RAM

^{Published on 2009-01-27 08:24:53, Last Modified on 2009-01-27 08:25:37 - Market Wire}
 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO--(Marketwire - January 27, 2009) - Ramtron International Corporation (NASDAQ: [ RMTR ]), the leading developer and supplier of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) and integrated semiconductor products, today announced the FM24L256, a 256-kilobit (Kb), 2.7- to 3.6-volt nonvolatile F-RAM memory device with a high-speed serial I2C memory interface. The FM24L256 provides high-performance data collection in a tiny, 8-pin package, cutting costs and board space in a range of applications from multi-function printers to industrial motor controllers.

F-RAM Memory Advantage

The FM24L256 is a 256Kb nonvolatile memory employing Ramtron's advanced ferroelectric process. F-RAM memories read and write like RAM and provide reliable data retention for 10 years while eliminating the complexities, overhead, and system level reliability problems caused by EEPROM and other nonvolatile memories.

F-RAM Features and Benefits

The FM24L256 performs write operations at bus speed without write delays and the next bus cycle can start immediately without the need for data polling. The device offers write endurance that is orders of magnitude higher than EEPROM and uses much lower power during writes than EEPROM, since write operations do not require an internally elevated power supply voltage for write circuits.

These capabilities make the FM24L256 ideal for nonvolatile memory applications requiring frequent or rapid writes. Examples range from data collection where the number of write cycles may be critical, to demanding industrial controls where the long write time of EEPROM can cause data loss. The combination of features allows more frequent data writing with less overhead for the system.

The FM24L256 provides substantial benefits to users of serial EEPROM in a hardware drop-in replacement. The FM24L256 is available in industry standard 8-pin SOIC package, operates from 2.7 to 3.6 volts, and is rated over the industrial temperature range of -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the FM24L256 are currently available in an 8-pin "Green"/RoHS SOIC (lead-free) package, with pricing starting at $4.56 in low volume.

About Ramtron

Ramtron International Corporation, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets specialized semiconductor memory and integrated semiconductor solutions used in a wide range of product applications and markets worldwide. For more information, visit [ www.ramtron.com ].

For a 300-dpi product photo, visit [ www.ramtron.com/press-center/image-bank.aspx ] (see Serial Product Photos).